Job Title: Senior Technical Legal Leader (Solicitor or CILEx with HPR)
Function: Legal Claims Services
Management Reports to: Legal Claims Services Director
Salary Range: £47,500 - £68,000 per annum
Purpose of Role
As a key member of the Legal Claims Services Leadership Team, the Senior Technical Leader is the senior, legally-qualified authority for the function, holding professional ownership of legal and technical strategy, litigation, and independent assurance across all claims processed through the OIC and MOJ portals.
This role owns the standard to which claims are handled; it does not run the operational line. Following the Mazur ruling and the strengthened requirements for qualified supervision of litigation, the Senior Technical Leader is the named, legally-qualified owner of all litigated matters in the function, accountable for ensuring every case is conducted in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules, regulatory obligations and the firm’s professional duties.
Working alongside the Claims Operations Manager, who owns operational delivery, the Senior Technical Leader sets the technical framework, assures its application through independent audit, develops the legal capability of the function, and owns the technical criteria for moving cases to the right track. Through this the role drives technical excellence, manages legal and regulatory risk, and protects the firm’s reputation and professional standing.
Key Accountabilities
- Own the legal and technical strategy for all portal claims (OIC and MOJ), setting the case-handling standards, decision frameworks and legal principles within which the operation works.
- Act as the named, legally-qualified owner of litigation: oversee all Litigation Approved Persons (LAPs) and Technical Leads, ensuring every litigated matter complies with the Civil Procedure Rules and post-Mazur qualified-supervision requirements.
- Own independent technical assurance and audit (deep-dive reviews, thematic audits and outcome testing), assessing quality, consistency, risk and improvement opportunities independently of operational delivery.
- Set and own the technical criteria for case movement (“right case, right place”): define when a case should exit the portal or change track, and assure that movement decisions are technically correct. Partner Specialist Legal Services on the case movement seam.
- Ensure full regulatory and legislative compliance (SRA, data protection and professional negligence exposure), maintaining robust governance and key liaison with the Director of Legal Practice and the Risk & Compliance team.
- Own the technical competency framework and technical onboarding and progression, building and assuring legal capability across the function.
- Provide technical governance, reporting and assurance that give senior leadership clear sight of quality and risk.
- Advise the Legal Claims Services Director and Claims Operations Manager on technical and litigation risk, acting as the function’s subject-matter expert on legal and regulatory matters.
Measures
Measure types only; targets are agreed at objective-setting. This role is measured on legal and technical quality and assurance, not on operational throughput, which sits with Claims Operations.
- Legal & technical quality: advice quality, case-track accuracy, technical competence.
- Governance & compliance: key controls, compliance breaches, professional negligence tolerance.
- Litigation: litigation appropriateness & outcomes, dispute ratio.
- Portfolio & financial health: WIP health, settled-to-standard, rehabilitation write-off, compensation value (leakage).
Person Specification
A credible technical leader who holds an independent line on quality and risk while building capability in others:
- Credibility to operate and influence at leadership level.
- Acts with drive, pace and integrity; able to work in a fast-moving environment.
- Takes personal ownership, leads by example and works collaboratively.
- Pragmatic, logical problem solver who creates clear options and acts decisively.
- Strong interpersonal skills, engaging and inspiring others.
Technical Skills
- Qualified lawyer (solicitor or CILEX) with current ability to oversee and supervise litigated matters (essential).
- Strong RTA specialist with deep technical experience of MOJ / OIC portals and non-portal tracks; excellent knowledge of the CPR and the small claims and fast tracks.
- Proven experience supervising fee earners and LAPs through portal and non-portal litigation.
- Excellent understanding of SRA and wider regulatory requirements; experience designing and running assurance and audit frameworks.
- Applies a depth of legal understanding to solve problems, develop case strategies and set sound handling standards.
- Strong coaching skills to develop technical capability across the function.
Personal Development
In a role at this level it is important to continue self-development and maintain positive relationships across the business to stay informed of all regulatory and CPR updates. You will be provided with a PDP based on your annual review, stretched toward senior technical and professional leadership.
Working Hours & Travel
Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00. The successful candidate will be required to work on site at least 3 days a week. Managing an on site operation will require strong visible leadership. Occasional travel expenses will be covered by the business.
Equal Opportunities
Minster Law is committed to equality and diversity and being a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.
We’re an equal opportunity and disability confident employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, neurodiversity, or disability status. You can read more about our commitment to equality and diversity on the Minster Law website.
